Objective: To maximize local tumor control, stabilize affected bones, and preserve or replace joints with minimal interventional burden, thereby enhancing quality of life for empowered living.
Indications: Suitable for patients with bone metastases, particularly those with severe pain and/or fractures and appropriate life expectancy.
Contraindications: In primary bone tumors, refer to the sarcoma surgery team for evaluation of wide resection.
The historically most commonly used preoperative radiotherapy regimen for soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) consists of 50 Gray (Gy) delivered in 25 fractions over 5 weeks, achieving excellent local control, but with significant challenges due to prolonged treatment duration and early side effects. Reducing therapy duration while maintaining optimal local and distant control would be highly beneficial for patients. We aimed to investigate the outcome of an ultrahypofractionated radiotherapy (uhRT) regimen which may represent a shorter and more patient-friendly alternative.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study evaluates the effectiveness of communication strategies and pain management protocols to enhance patients' experiences during sarcoma core biopsies. Recognizing the complexity and anxiety associated with sarcoma diagnoses, this research aims to assess the utility of the Invasive Procedure Assessment (IPA) tool, focusing on its ability to identify areas for improvement through Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) and Patient-Reported Experience Measures (PREMs). Conducted at two Integrated Practice Units (IPUs) within the Swiss Sarcoma Network, this study involved 282 consecutive patients who underwent core biopsies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study evaluated the impact of care pathways on the incidence of local recurrence (LR) in patients with soft tissue sarcomas (STS) and identified factors predictive of LR. It compared outcomes between patients managed entirely within a comprehensive care pathway (CCP) at the Swiss Sarcoma Network (SSN) and those who experienced fragmented care pathways (FCPs), where initial treatment occurred outside specialized centers. This prospective study utilized real-world-time data from the SSN-Sarconnector, capturing quality indicators through weekly Multidisciplinary Team/Sarcoma-Board (MDT/SB) meetings.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Sarcomas, a diverse group of malignant tumors arising from mesenchymal tissues, pose significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. This study compares the outcomes of planned resections (PEs) and unplanned resections (UEs) to inform better clinical practices.
Methods: Data were analyzed from the Swiss Sarcoma Network (SSN), including patients with soft tissue and bone sarcomas treated at two major hospitals.